Morning journal and courier., 1887-08-25
BROWNS LAND GRANT.
The Patrons of Husbandry Have
Grievance which am Ohdcial Says /
TInF0nnAod

The Patrons of Husbandry Have &
Grievance which an Omcial Says i.
Unfounded.
PROVIDENCE, Aug. 24.-An official con
nected with Brown university denies the in
situations made at the meeting of the Patrons
of Husbandry at Oakland Beach last Satur-
day, Farmers day." when the subject of
the grant of lands by the federal government
to the several colleges in the country was
discussed by number of gentlemen, includ-
ing Major Henry E. Alvord, professor of
agriculture at the Massachusetts, State Agri-
I cultural college. Major Alvord said that to
Rhode Island grant of 10000 acres was
made in 1862, which the college trustees
were authorized to locate, hold or sell. This
land, at the lowest government rate was
worth 81 per acre or $3.50, 900 and had 1t been
held it would now have been worth 81 ,OOO,-
900. Cornell had held on to her land and it
was now worth 100000. Major
A1vord claimed that Brown sold her
lands for about $4,000 and that since
then she had received an income of at
least $40, 900 in the aggregate. The intention
of the federal government was undoubtedly
that the land or its income should be used in
the interest of agriculture and he urged the
farmers of Rhode Island to organize and
bring pressure to bear upon the legislature
and its committee and let them know that
they were being watched to see that they
represent their interests faithfully. Resolu-
lions were then adopted which reviewed the
act of Congress to establish agricultural ex-
detrimental stations in connection with the
several colleges in the United States under
the provisions of an act approved July 2,
1869; also affirming that Brown university
had not established such station and that
the agricultural interests of the State had
received little or no benefit from the fund
as disposed of by the university. There
were also embodied requests that leg
islative committee be appointed to
inquire into the establishment of an agricul-
tural experiment station; that the entire
$15, 900 income accruing to the station under
the Hatch act be devoted to the support of
said station; that the State request Brown
to hand over the entire principal
now held by her account of said land |
grants; that the station be established en-
tirely distinct from and independent of Brown
The university official interviewed said
that the land granted to Brown was located
in Kansas. The college held it for a while |
and then in common with other colleges sold |
it through an agent who visited the several |
institutions of learning and made offers /
which were generally accepted. Brown uni |
versity realized $50, 600 for her share of the |
public lands and invested the proceeds |
so that there was an annual in |
come of $4,000. An agricultural depart
ment, pure and simple, was deemed not at /
all advisable, and instead of going into 1
farming in practical way as Amherst and /
a few other colleges had done, Brown bent |
her best efforts to give to the sons of farmers
4 thorough education not for the univer-
sity or the law, but such an one as |
would give them practical knowledge of |
chemistry and such other branches as /
would be of benefit to them in following the |
pursuit of farming. The income from the fund
SO, 000-was used up in thirty scholarships, |
zach representing an annual income to the |
college of 500. In no other way was the
benefited a penny. A special !
slcove had been reserved in the university
library in which were placed all the standard
works of agriculture and the benefciaries of
he land fund had free access to these books. |
The scholarships were distributed in such
way as to give representation in the uni
7ersity to every bucolic section of the State
md the favors were dispensed through the
Secretary of State.